This has become a political football. But no matter what is said, it is of no real importance.
I am not a politician, and have no reason to play this stupid game. I suppose it must make sense to everyone to weigh in on some particular point of view if they think it will bring them votes.
I agree that this mosque is not any sort of PR plus for Muslims outside the Muslim community. It would be better for their image to build it elsewhere, in my opinion. But it really doesn't matter what I think. I have no say in what people do with their money, and in return they have no say in what I do with mine. It seems like a fair trade.
I COULD walk into Denny's and tell all those omelet and sausage eaters that they are ingesting too much cholesterol, I could put nasty notes on the windshields of Hummers about guzzling above and beyond the call of duty, I could make fun of simpletons in the mall who believe for some wacky reason that there is no reason why a T-shirt should be considered infinitely more stylish if the name "HOLLISTER" is printed upon it. People do so many stupid things I could spend a lifetime in a totally futile campaign to educate them, but why bother? I would just annoy people and they would not be convinced of my point of view. They would rightly consider me a pest and buttinsky.
The truth is that it will not affect my life or almost anyone else's if there is a mosque or community center in an old Burlington Coat Factory building. There is no danger that attacks will be staged from there anymore than from some nearby hotel or airport or anywhere else. The government cannot pronounce the site of 9-11, let alone the old coat factory site "hallowed ground". Our government is not capable of hallowing anything. So whether the mosque (or whatever one chooses to call it) is built is entirely up to the property owners. They have no obligation to please me or any of you.